In this issue
Unique Event Location
Chapter Place, Pentridge Melbourne

Life of an Intern
Annabel Munro-Johns

Pacific Search and Rescue Workshop
and Women in Maritime Conference

PCMA Campfire Chat
with Peter J.O'Neil

Event Funding and Support
GCCEC Economic Recovery
Bid Support Program
Chapter Place
Pentridge, Melbourne
Looking for that unique destination, a location unlike any other? Look no further than Chapter Place, Pentridge Melbourne - a residential conference and events venue for people who know that experience
is everything. Click here to see the article on this exciting and memorable event space.
Life of an Intern
Annabel Munro-Johns
Hi, my name is Annabel and I’m currently undertaking my internship here at GEMS Event Management. As a university student studying a Bachelor of Event Management at ICMS, industry placement is a mandatory part of my degree. I am extremely lucky and grateful to have this internship and to learn from the Managing Director of GEMS Event Management, Julie McGraw.

How does this Internship help with my degree? 

ICMS has a mentality of hands-on learning, or
as they call it ‘Work Integrated learning’. The experience of being in a workplace and doing things myself, helps me to apply my studies to
real-life situations. As well as doing an internship, we also have practical elements woven into our classroom work. This allows us to learn as we go and troubleshoot any problems that arise, helping us later down the track. 

Along the way, I am gaining knowledge about
the business side of events to help with the next 
part of my degree and prepare me for work after
I have graduated. 
How does the Event Management degree work? 

The ICMS Bachelor of Event Management, 
is a very hands-on course. Using industry professionals as our lecturers, this allows us as students to learn from people who know the industry and can teach us from their own knowledge. Along with doing core event 
management classes we also undertake 
business, economics, finance, and law classes. The aim is to guide us into working full time within a business or even owning our own business one day.
"I look forward to continuing my internship with GEMS Event Management this year. Learning from the team and experiencing events and conferences along the way to further help me with my studies".
Pacific Search and Rescue Workshop
and Women in Maritime Conference
Julie, Chris and Michelle recently ventured to Cairns to manage the 9th Pacific Regional Maritime Search and Rescue (PACSAR) Workshop and 3rd Pacific Women in Maritime Conference, which were jointly held at the Cairns Convention Centre from 27th February – 3 March 2023. This event was hosted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in partnership with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and The Pacific Community (SPC). 

The Pacific Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Workshop is a biennial event which serves to build the Search and Rescue coordination and capabilities across the Pacific. This year’s workshop provided an opportunity for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) to discuss progress and provide their updates on the four strategic pillars of an effective SAR system, namely, SAR Governance, Coordination, Response and Prevention. 
The Regional Conference for Pacific Women in Maritime addressed the progress and implementation of previous conference resolutions and work plans for the Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA). Additionally, this event served to increase the awareness of the role of women in Search and Rescue operations, as the women in maritime network has the capacity to advocate community-based approach on preventive measures supporting safety. 
 
With representatives of over 20 nations in attendance, the team from GEMS were delighted to be involved in such a positive and transformative event that will further reinforce the collective efforts of pacific nations in future international search and rescue operations. 
PCMA Campfire Chat
with Peter J. O'Neil
At PCMA the aim is to connect, educate and inspire business event professionals.

The newest team member to join PCMA is Amanda Lovett. Amanda’s professional experience in sales and marketing has provided her with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the Australian event industry. Amanda is based in Sydney, with an emphasis on building the PCMA community within Australia. 

Join us for a Campfire Chat, for business event organisers, with Peter J. O'Neil, FASAE, CAE, Global Board Member and Trustee of PCMA, all the way from Chicago. Get ready to have all your key questions about the industry answered, from a global perspective!

Peter will be sharing his best business event strategies that can be applied to the Australian landscape.
Connect with like-minded professionals in Sydney and gain valuable insights from a pivotel leader with over 20 years of industry experience.
This exclusive invite-only event has limited spots available! Register your interest to attend the event here: http://bit.ly/40e1AAH
Event Funding and Support
GCCEC Economic Recovery Bid Support Program
The Queensland Government has created a $7 million economic support program dedicated to attracting business events to the sunshine state.

The Queensland Government Convention and Exhibition Centre Economic Recovery Bid Support Program allows events to apply for $100 per registered full program delegate for a maximum of 1,000 delegates, with the opportunity for events to increase this to $120 per registered full program delegate if a multi-year deal is signed.

Click here for the full bid support program fact sheet for the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Do you need guidance and support to deliver
your next in-person, hybrid or 100% virtual event?

With over 30 years expertise in hosting complex, multi-faceted events beyond 1,000 attendees, we can help deliver your next conference or event. Contact Michelle Glasson, Director Marketing and Business Development +61 2 9744 5252 or email mglasson@gemsevents.com.au